Homework Help Desk: It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that AB AB AB Scheme, Do ah do ah do ah do ah...

My son is still working on poetry for school. He's trying his hand at many different rhyme schemes. It seems like it would be easy until you try.


Tonight's post is for my poetry writing son.


Writing poetry in verse
is like trying to refold a map
after unfolding it

Take this small
perfect
contained
rectangle

open it

shake it

it unfurls
it rattles
it blows in the wind

lay it down on the ground

flatten it
with your sweat damp hands

You are here.
Where are you going?

Once you have your bearings,
try to find the one right way
to make this unwieldy flapping expanse
fit again
into the small space
it once was small enough to fit
perfectly

refold
along
the creases
running sharply through
rivers
mountains,
towns
and
cities
unnamed townships
interstate highways
and railroad tracks
ponds and oceans
and oceans
and lakes

folding a map is
strange origami
writing a poem
in verse
is folding feelings
like a map
into a bird